Paul Callus Poet Quatrain

Two Lenses

When I was young I hated school;
in playing truant saw no harm.
How could I throw away the fun
which I enjoyed on grandpa’s farm?

My mum was strict and had her way
while the pied piper played his fife!
So common sense won in the end;
I taught in schools most of my life!

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Contest: Two Lenses
Sponsor: Sara Kendrick
Placed 1st

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Poet Destroyer A March 5, 2016 at 4:48 AM Congratulations Paul... Have a lovely day... Linda Paul Callus March 5, 2016 at 12:10 PM Thank you Linda:) I've been fighting a lingering cold and am still running a temperature, but made an effort to get up to check some mail. Have a lovely weekend ~ hugs // paul

Lindsay Laurie March 1, 2016 at 12:24 AM What a beauty Paul - I reckon you would be a bloody good teacher too - Lindsay Paul Callus March 1, 2016 at 10:39 AM Thank you Lindsay:) Hope that teaching will be an inspiration for your next witty poem! ~ Regards // paul

Andrea Dietrich February 29, 2016 at 4:00 PM Congrats, good to see this one again, and you don't like roller coasters? Did you ever? I really miss those things. I think roller coasters do not affect my nausea the way other rides do. So maybe I will do a roller coaster again one day!! Paul Callus February 29, 2016 at 4:12 PM The trouble with rollercoasters is that you have to wait ages in long queues! By the time it gets to my turn I could have gone on several less popular rides with my g'daughter! Yes...I can imagine you on one:) ~ paul

Sara Kendrick February 29, 2016 at 9:11 AM Thank you for participating in my contest “Two Lenses”..It was an honor to read your entry..Sara..The whole world needs really great teachers who love learning, teaching and the children or young adults that are there to be taught.. Paul Callus February 29, 2016 at 11:11 AM It was a pleasure participating in your contest, Sara. So pleased to be on your winners' list:) Thank you for the inspiration! ~ Warm regards // paul

Connie Marcum Wong February 28, 2016 at 8:17 PM It is true, I think the worst students make the best teachers. They make the classes interesting and challenging and not boring. A great entry Paul! I really hated school and I am now teaching reiki. ; ) Paul Callus February 29, 2016 at 4:05 PM You have appoint there, Connie. My first year was teaching 13 year olds from an orphanage; I was their 4th teacher (first term!) The staff wished me luck, believing I would soon quit. Those 'troublesome' boys and I became great friends...I even spent weekends at their orphanage. Up till this day some still keep in touch...satisfaction! ~ Paul

Andrea Dietrich February 28, 2016 at 7:16 PM oh wow, I should have thought of that I too became a teacher and never relished being in school that much. AWesome, and I do hope this is on the winners' list, right? Paul Callus February 29, 2016 at 3:45 PM I wonder how many Soupers are/were teachers! I am sure we'd have many stories to recount:) .. and yes , it is on the winners' list:) // paul

Anindya Mohan Tagore February 28, 2016 at 8:12 AM Haha ... destiny, Paul. Every naughty child should become a teacher. Because, they know how boring were the classes and how to make it interesting to the students.Hugs, Bobby Paul Callus February 28, 2016 at 9:55 AM I love your feedback, Bobby; your reasoning is well founded:) Thank you! Have a nice day. // paul

Timothy Hicks February 27, 2016 at 7:17 PM Life is quite ironic, it seems ... It's nice to hear more about your childhood, and how it all worked out for the better. I used to abhor reading fiction, and only liked factual books ... now I read quite a bit, and write things that are mostly imagination. Feelings fluctuate quite a bit. Best of luck, Paul. Paul Callus February 28, 2016 at 10:01 AM In my case it is ironic that I spent a lifetime doing what I hated most...and enjoying it in the process! Teaching was also something that ran in the family (both my parents and 4 of my siblings were teachers...now my daughter too is a teacher!). Have a nice Sunday! // paul

Cherl Dunn February 27, 2016 at 5:50 PM Dear Paul Enjoyed learning more about you and your childhood here my friend, nice work and very interesting, good luck in the contest. Thanks for your input on my poems two, I'll be writing something new on my days off coming up, right now I'm working so much I don't know weather I'm coming or going, you take care, cheri Paul Callus February 28, 2016 at 10:08 AM Seems like we're in the same boat at the moment, Cherl! I have lots to do and my writing is suffering. Thank you for finding the time to stop by...I do appreciate it, my friend:) All the best...paul

Sandra Haight February 27, 2016 at 5:23 PM Such a great 'turn around', Paul! Love how you did the theme, and congratulations on your win! Sandra Paul Callus February 28, 2016 at 9:52 AM I'm pleased that you like it, Sandra. Your beach entry also caught my attention! Thank you for the comments and congrats:) // paul

Susan Gentry February 27, 2016 at 5:17 PM Congratulations on your win! Enjoyed reading. Paul Callus February 28, 2016 at 10:09 AM Thank you for reading and enjoying, Susan:) Have a lovely day. Regards // paul

Sneha Rv February 27, 2016 at 3:59 PM This is fantastic!! Congratulations on your wonderful win!! :D :D Paul Callus February 28, 2016 at 10:14 AM Glad that you liked it, Sneha...thank you:) Regards ... paul

Charmaine Chircop February 27, 2016 at 2:55 PM Love your poem Alfred. Now am smiling, nearly all the friends I make are all teachers . I do it without knowing.. Maybe cuz I still love learning so much. Who doesn't love some days at a farm with nature and its beauty.. Lovely post that let us peek into your life. Paul Callus February 27, 2016 at 3:58 PM :) What's in a name! :) Incidentally I do have relations in the Balzan/Attard area (Callus, Baldacchino, Sammut, Mallia...). When young I lived with my g'parents in Xarolla windmill; they also had a farm near Hal Far. Those were the days!!! Of course, we never stop learning...I learn something new every day! Thank you for a pleasant visit:) // paul Charmaine Chircop February 27, 2016 at 2:57 PM Paul.. Oh gee.. I always call you Alfred. Alfred Callus is the guy , from whom our house was bought.. Somehow I keep calling you with that name, I apologise.

Anne-Lise Andresen February 27, 2016 at 7:13 AM - The best thing about school was all the long holidays :) - Good luck in contest, Paul - A great poem - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Paul Callus February 27, 2016 at 8:37 AM Thank you Anne Lise:) Holidays are always something to look forward to, both for children, and also for teachers...theirs can be a tiring job. ~ Have a lovely weekend. hugs ~ paul

Eileen Manassian February 27, 2016 at 6:08 AM If love to be in your class, Paul...lovely write, my dear. Hugs Paul Callus February 27, 2016 at 6:51 AM I think you would have liked it in my class, Eileen! My students knew where they stood with me....work & fun:) Thank you for a lovely visit...have a lovely weekend. ~ hugs // paul

Hija De La Luna February 27, 2016 at 12:29 AM Yay! Related to this, Paul! And I love the way how you wove this piece! Glad to have visited PS today! Paul Callus February 27, 2016 at 5:44 AM Good day Hija:) Telepathy must be at work! A while ago I saw an earlier comment of yours on one of my poems and it reminded me to go visiting your posts....in the meantime you beat me to it:) Thank you for stopping by with lovely comments. Have a lovely weekend! ~ paul

Arthur Vaso February 26, 2016 at 9:53 PM I like how you weaved this! Very nice! I think I can really say "poetic justice" :) Paul Callus February 27, 2016 at 6:21 AM "poetic justice" is an apt phrase to describe this light poem, Arthur:) Thank you for finding positives in it! Have a nice day. // paul

CayCay Godwin February 26, 2016 at 4:53 PM School should be for adults, when we really care to learn. If true, I bet you were a wonderful teacher. I enjoyed your entry and related to it. Good luck in the contest. I can't think of one except as an adult I no longer bath with girlfriends - didn't write about it though ... CayCay Paul Callus February 26, 2016 at 5:03 PM Hi CayCay! Although I did not like school, I enjoyed reading, and that must have been the magic spell that helped me along! I was also lucky that my mind retained things easily, so I did not have to bother much with studying. I think your childhood memory will make a good write for this theme...Regards // paul

Laura Breidenthal February 26, 2016 at 4:11 PM School's not always easy, but it is rewarding in many ways. Nice quatrain, Paul! Really enjoyed reading. Always, Laura Paul Callus February 26, 2016 at 4:42 PM Thank you for reading, enjoying and commenting, Laura. Have a lovely weekend:) // paul

Poet Destroyer A February 26, 2016 at 4:10 PM Paul, I like this poem, I cheer you for common sense. Mom's are strict but know best... HUGS. LINDA Paul Callus February 26, 2016 at 4:31 PM Linda, there were 7 siblings in our family, thus I ended up spending most of the time living with my grandparents in a windmill (see fb) and on their farm; it was heaven on earth:) Giving up all that was not easy!! hugs // paul

Jan Allison February 26, 2016 at 3:35 PM This is like two different sides to a coin Paul - wise mum and son won in the end:-) good luck in the contest:-) hugs Jan xx Paul Callus February 26, 2016 at 3:58 PM Thank you, Jan:) I think I've written this the other way round; Sara asked for something we liked and which later we did not. After enjoying freedom on the farm I found it hard to fit in school life! In time the magic flute convinced me that school could also be fun. Hugs // paul